The recipe for Citadelle French Gin was created in the Citadelle Distillery of Dunkirk in 1771. France's oldest registered gin distillery, Citadelle was uniquely placed to take the advantage of the flourishing maritime trade routes of the Middle Ages. Dunkirk was the first port of call back in Europe for many seafaring explorers returning from the Orient, their ships laden with exotic herbs and spices such as coriander and cinnamon. The abundance of those spices, or botanicals, persuaded renowned French distillers Carpeau and Stival to build 12 traditional copper pot stills in the Citadelle, the historic fortress protecting the town.

The same class of still is employed to make Citadelle gin today. So is Carpeau and Stival's authentic original recipe, which was discovered by French fine liquor producers Gabriel & Andreu as they investigated the old Dunkirk distillery.